Who are James Orr and Dan Jukes? Senior officials resign from Reform UK over undercover funding stingNigel Farage’s senior aide and head of policy have stepped down, pending the outcome of an internal investigationVerbatim/Channel 4 News/X/James OrrNiva Yadav1 minute ago
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Two senior Reform UK officials have stepped down from their roles after allegations of the party breaching political donation rules emerged on Thursday night.
Channel 4 News reported that Nigel Farage’s party took funding from a US firm for three polls, costing £32,500, commissioned earlier this year.
The sting operation saw the party accept the funding from undercover reporters posing as an American financier and his UK-based son.
Undercover reporters posing as party donors met with Nigel Farage Channel 4 / Verbatim
Under electoral law, foreign companies are not allowed to provide funding for UK parties, including payments for studies and research.
Nigel Farage’s senior aide Dan Jukes and head of policy James Orr have now both stood down, pending the outcome of an internal investigation, Reform UK said.
The revelations by Channel 4 come amid ongoing scrutiny of the funding of Mr Farage and his party.
Reform UK denies any wrongdoing.
Who is James Orr?
James OrrX/James Orr
James Orr, who is a senior adviser to Nigel Farage, was appointed Reform UK’s head of policy in April this year.
He is a theologian who serves as the associate professor of the philosophy of religion at Cambridge University, during which time it was reported that he invited Canadian commentator Jordan Peterson to the university.
His policies have been largely influenced by Christian nationalism and he has been known to have close ties among other Chirstian conservative politicians including Victor Orban and JD Vance.
Mr Orr also acts as the chair of the Edmund Burke Foundation – a Netherlands-based conservative organisation – and as a member of the advisory council for the Free Speech Union.
Prior to taking over as the head of policy, Mr Orr claimed at a Reform UK conference last year that the UK should form an equivalent to the United State’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
He also showed his support for the Project 2025 document – a 900-page policy blueprint written by the Heritage Foundation for Donald Trump.
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The Heritage Foundation is an American right-wing think tank, which has pushed for restricted abortion access and has opposed LGBTQ+ rights.
Who is Dan Jukes?
Dan Jukes has been identified as one of Mr Farage’s long-term aides and the director of communications by the Guardian.
He was first appointed as press officer in January 2017, but worked his way up the Reform UK ranks.
Prior to joining Reform UK, Mr Jukes was involved in the youth wing of the UKIP party, according to Prospect.
It is understood that both men have now stepped down from their roles and that no further comment will be made while the investigation is ongoing.
Reform UK chairman Lee Anderson said this morning that there is “no chance” of the pair returning to the party, according to LBC.
Reform UK denies any wrongdoing.
It comes on the day of Reform UK’s annual two-day conference in Birmingham.
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